Dredge-bucket.



No. 683,870. Patented Oct. I, l90l. J. 0. WRIGHT.

DREDGE BUCKET.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1901 '1 2 Sheets-Sheet l. v

(No Modal.)

ljvl ENTOR' Affomeys No. 683,870. Patented Oct. I, tam.

' J. U. WRIGHT.

DREDGE BUCKET.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1901.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Shea! 2,

[2v VEJV TOR 2 '3' B wmm A! FFICE.

PATENT JAMES O. WRIGHT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DREDGE-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent No. 683,870, dated October 1, 1901. Application filed .l'anunry 17, 1901. Serial No. 43,651. (No model.)

.such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in dredging-buckets of what is commonly known as the clam-shell type; and it consists of an improved dredging bucket so designed, having its two segments or scoops so connected to the operating mechanism as to improve the action of the bucket in opening and in closing.

My invention particularly is intended to providea bucket the operating parts of which may be readily adjusted so as to better adapt the bucket to the character of material to be handled, and in addition to these characteristics it is intended to simplify the construction of the device and improve its durability and effectiveness in use.

My dredging-bucket is intended to be operated by any double-drum engine and suspended from a swinging boom or crane, or an overhead truck with a trolley arrangement, or upon a suspended cableway.

My invention comprises certain details of construction and peculiar combinations of parts, as will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dredgebucket in the closed position. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1 and looking to the left in the said figure. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bucket in the open position and parts being broken away for the sake of better illustration; and Fig. 4 is an inverted plan View of the bucket in the open position, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness in the drawings. I

A and 13 represent segments or scoops,

preferably of steel and of any suitable shape,

preferably that shown in the drawings, and these two segments or scoops are connected to the scoop A, as at k and Z.

.the bar a is independently pivoted at 70.

H, to which the scoops A and B are con-- nected by means of the two sets of bars a' b o and d 6 fat each side of the bucket. The bars a b c are pivotally attached at one end (Seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3.) The bars I) and o have a common pivotal connection Z, while The opposite ends of the bars a b c are pivoted upon the wheels E and H, as seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, it being understood that the arrangement of the bars on the opposite side of the bucket from what is seen in said figures is the same. As will be seen, the bar 0 has an individual pivotal connection at n with the wheel E, while the bars a and b have a common pivotal connection m with the wheel E. This arrangement of the bars a b c is similar with respect to the wheel H at the opposite side of the bucket. The bars d e f are pivotally attached at one end to a scoop B at p and 0. As in the case of the bars b and c the bars at and f have a common pivotal point 0, while the bar e has an individual pivotal point p. The opposite ends of the bars d e f are pivotally connected to the wheels F and G, the bars 6 and f having a common pivotal connection at r and the bar d having an individual pivotal connection at q with each of the wheels F and G. The outer faces of the disks E and H are approximately in the same vertical plane as the surfaces of the sides of the scoops A and'B, and the bars a b 0, used for connecting one scoop, such as A, to the wheels or disks E and H, may therefore be straight bars, as shown, while the bars d e f, used for connecting the other section, such as B, to the disks or wheels F and G, are necessarily bent or offset, as also shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4: of the drawings. The length of the connecting-bars a b o and d e f determine the limit of the opening between the sections of the buckets or scoops A and B and fix the area to be traversed by the scoops in opening and closing. -In order to render these bars adjustable, therefore, series of holes and 13 may be provided in the bars a a and c e at their lower ends, as shown in the drawings, thus allowing of an adjustment of the inclination of the scoops A and B with reference to a horizontal plane, adapting the angle of the cutting edges of the scoops to the character of the material to be excavated or handled. In order to render the bars a b c and cl e f further adjustable, they may be provided with series of openings m n and 'r g at their upper ends, where they are connected to the disks or wheels E H and F G. By the use of adjustable bolts or pins the parts may be readily adjusted as desired.

I and K represent drums or sheaves fixed upon the ends of the shaft (J and suitable for receiving a few turns of either chain or wire cable. Situated midway on the shaft 0 a sheave or drum L is fixed, and to this drum or sheave is attached one end of a chain or cable D. This chain or cable leads from a drum (not shown) driven by any suitable power and serves as the closing-line in operating the bucket. Chains or cables 8 andt are connected at s and 25, respectively, to the scoops B and A, as seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, and these chains or cables 3 and 15 lead in opposite directions from their fixed ends 5 and i, above referred to, and reeve about loose pulleys s and t mounted in suitable casings s and i on the sides of the scoops A and B, respectively. After reeving about the pulleys s and t the chains or cables 5 and t are given a few turns about the sheaves or drums I and K in the same direction and are secured to the said drums. The chains or cables 8 and i should, preferably, be of such a length as to be entirely reeled off from the sheaves or drums I and K when the bucket is fully open. The closing-line D should also be of such alength that it will be almost if not entirely reeled off of the sheave or drum L when the bucket is closed, the length of the chains or cables .9 and 6 representing the approximate limit of the movement of the scoops in opening and the length of the closing-lineD representing the approximate limit of the movement of the scoops in closing.

0 and P represent short bars or links,which are pivoted at their upper ends to arms Q, suspended from a bail R, which latter may in turn be suspended, by means of acha-in or cable,from a crane or any other suit-able support. (Not shown.) The pivoted bars P are pivotally connected at their lower ends to short bars or links U, which links are in turn pivoted to the disks or wheels E and H, respectively, and the bars P are also pivotally connected to longer bars X, which are in turn pivotally connected to the bars a near their pivotal connection 7; with the scoop A. In

like manner the pivotal bars 0 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to short bars or links V,which are in turn pivotally connected to disks or wheels Fand G, respectively, and the said bars 0 are also pivotally connected to longer bars Y, which latter are in turn pivotall y connected to the bars 6 near their point of pivotal connection 1) with the scoop 13. In order to increase the opening of the scoops to a greater angle, the short bars UV maybe fixedly attached to the disks or wheels F G, respectively, and a suitable bar or rod may be passed through the bars X P where they are connected across the scoop to the corresponding bars on the opposite side of the bucket. Likewise a similar rod or bar may be passed through the bars 0 Y where they are connected to the corresponding bars in the opposite side of the bucket. These bars may be so arranged as to engage the bars U V and the corresponding bars on the opposite side of the bucket on their under side at the outer ends when the bucket is closed. Thus when a lifting power is applied to the bars 0 P at Q it is transmitted to the outer ends of the shorter bars or links U V, which causes the disks E H and F G to rotate, as above described, and the bucket to open to a position about midway between those shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In this position the bars passing through the pivotal points of O Y and P X become disengaged from the bars U V, and the power applied to the bars 0 and P is transmitted directly to the rear of the scoops A B, causing the bucket to open to a position much wider than that shown in Fig. 3, which is of greatimportance in discharging adhesive material.

As a substitute for the bars 0, P, and Q pieces of chain or wire cable of proper length may be used, and these may be attached directly to corresponding wheels or disks, if preferred.

Instead of the bars X X andYY being pivoted to the bars a a and c e, asshown, they maybe pivotally connected to the rear of the scoops A and B, respectively.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the disks or wheels E and H, which are loose upon the shaft O, are connected through their train of bars and chains or cables with the scoop A, while the disks or wheels F and G, with their corresponding train of pivotal bars and chains or cables, are connected with the scoop B alone. By reason of the disks or wheels E H and F G being free to rotate upon the shaft C when a lifting strain is applied to the bars 0 and P and the closingline D released the pull of the bars 0 and P upon the disks and theirconnections causes the rotation of the disks. The rotation of the disks E and II will be in one direction and that of the disks F and G will be in the opposite direction until the disks and buckets and the connecting-bars all assume the positions shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that in operation of the bucket in opening, the pivotal point 72, where the bar 0 is attached to the disk E, travels from a position on the right of a vertical plane passing through the center of the bucket, as shown in Fig. l, to a position on the left of such a vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 3,

while the point on travels the same distance in an opposite direction. The effect is to throw the front or cutting edge of the scoop away from this vertical plane and at the same time draw the heel or back of the scoop toward this vertical plane. \Vhen closing the bucket, the reverse motion is required. A pull on the closing-line D, which has one or more turns about the sheave or drum L, causes the rotation of the shaft 0 and the sheaves or drums I and K, fixed upon the ends of said shaft. The connecting chains or cables 8 and t are partially wound upon these drums or sheaves I and K, and the cutting edges of the scoops are brought together upon a mass of the material being operated upon and the bucket is filled. The relative size of the sheaves or drums I and Kand the sheave or drum L may be varied to increase or decrease the closing power transmitted through the closing lines or chains to the scoops A and B. Thus the power required for closing the scoops would be comparatively small in soft mud, while in hard earth or gravel it would be comparatively great.

It will be obvious that instead of the wheels E, F, G, and H segments or radial arms may be used, if desired, inasmuch as such would be the equivalent of the wheels and would answer the same purpose. The principal advantage of the wheels would be,then,strength.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a dredging-bucket, the combination with a pair of scoops; a central cross-shaft; disks or radial arms mounted on said shaft; and bars connecting said scoops with said radial arms in such manner that the center of said shaft coincides with the axis of rotation of said scoops; means for drawing the scoops apart for emptying the bucket and means for causing a reverse movement of the scoops for closing the bucket, substantially as described.

2. In a dredging-bucket, the combination with apair of scoops; a cross-shaft; and two sets of wheels rotatably mounted upon said shaft; of bars attached to the said scoops and connected to the said wheels in opposite radii thereof; and means for causing the rotation of the two sets of wheels in opposite directions, substantially as described.

- 3. In a dredging-bucket the combination with a pair of scoops; bars connected in sets to the said scoops; a cross-shaft; and two sets of radial arms rotatably mounted upon said shaft; of means for adj ustably connecting said bars to the said radial arms and means for causing the rotation of the two sets of arms in opposite directions.

4. In a dredging-bucket, the combination with a pair of scoops; bars connected in sets to the said scoops; a central cross-shaft; and radial arms rotatably mounted upon said shaft, to which arms said bars are connected in sets; means for causing the rotation of said arms in sets in opposite directions; means for rotating said shaft; and connection between the said shaft and the said scoops whereby the positive rotation of said shaft causes closing of the bucket, substantially as described.

5 In a dredging-bucket the combination with a pair of scoops; bars connected in sets to the said scoops; a central cross-shaft; and radial arms rotatably mounted upon said shaft, to which arms said bars are connected in sets; means for causing the rotation of said arms in sets in opposite directions; means for rotating said shaft; and a drum or sheave fixed on the shaft, and a closing-line connected with said drum or sheave and arranged to wind and unwind thereon; and connections between the said shaft and said scoops whereby the rotation of said shaft caused by the unwinding of the closing-line on said sheave causes the closing of the bucket, substantially as described.

6. In a dredging-bucket the combination with two scoops; bars connected in sets to the said scoops; a crossshaft; and radial arms arranged in sets rotatablymounted upon said shaft; of means for causing the rotation of said sets of arms in opposite directions to open the scoops; means for causing the rotation of said shaft in a direction the opposite of the direction of the rotation of the "said arms; drums or sheaves fixed on the said shaft; chains or cables connected to the said drums or sheaves and also connected independently to the said scoops for closing the latter, substantially as described.

7. In a dredging-bucket the combination with two scoops; bars connected in sets to the said scoops; a cross-shaft; and radial arms arranged in sets rotatably mounted upon said shaft; of means for causing the rotation of said sets of arms in opposite directions to open the scoops; means for causing the rotation of said shaft in a direction the opposite of the direction of the rotation of the said arms;

drums or sheaves fixed on the said shaft; chains or cables connected to the said drums or sheaves and also connected independently to the said scoops; and idle pulleys mounted upon the scoops, the chains or cables which are connected to the one scoop passing around the idle pulleys mounted upon the other scoop, substantially as described.

8. In a dredging-bucket the combination with a pair of scoops; bars pivotally connected to the said scoops; a cross-shaft; radial arms arranged in sets mounted rotatably upon said cross-shaft and to which said bars are pivotally connected; and diagonal brace-bars also connected to said scoops and to said ra IIO dial arms; of'means connected to the said scoops for pulling them apart; means for causing the rotation of said shaft; and con nections between the said shaft and the said scoops for drawing the latter toward each other, substantially as described.-

9. In a dredging-bucket the combination with a pair of scoops; bars pivotally connected to the said scoops; a cross-shaft; radial arms arranged in sets mounted rotatably upon said cross-shaft and to which said bars are pivotally connected; and diagonal brace-bars also connected to said scoops and to said radial arms; of a bail; separate sets of jointed bars connecting the said bail with the said scoops for pulling them apart; means for causing the rotation of said shaft; and connections between the said shaft and the said scoops for drawing the latter toward each other, substantially as described.

10. In a dredging-bucket the combination with a pair of scoops; bars pivotally connected to the said scoops; a cross-shaft; radial arms arranged in sets mounted rotatably upon said cross-shaft and to which said bars are JAMES o. WRIGHT.

W'itnesses PORTER PARKER, LAURENCE M. JANIN. 

